A collection of Latin American embroidered huipiles
Mid/late 20th century
Eleven hand-embroidered Mexican and Guatemalan traditional-style garments including ten "huipiles" or overblouses in various styles, colors and fabrics, all with multi-colored central and shoulder panels, in various motifs including birds, animals, flowers, figures, and geometric designs, as well as a pair of likely Huichol embroidered cotton pants with various cross-stitch designs including peacocks, roosters, butterflies, flowers, and a desert rat, 11 pieces
Largest: 27" H x 42" W; smallest: 20" H x 25.5" W; pants: 26" H x 19.5" W at waist; approximately
Provenance: The Estate of Dr. Amy Conger

Other Notes: A huipil (from the Nahuatl uipilli, meaning "blouse-dress") is a form of traditional textile tunic or blouse worn by indigenous Mayan, Zapotec, and other women in central to southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and western Honduras, in the northern part of Central America. Worn by women of both high and low social rank since well before the Spanish invasion, the huipil, once a characteristic item of Aztec clothing, remains the most common female indigenous garment still in use in these areas. The elaborate design and patterns of a traditional woman's huipil may convey the wearer's village, marital status, and personal beliefs.

Traditional huipiles, especially ceremonial ones, are usually made with fabric woven on a backstrap loom and are decorated with woven designs, as well as additional embroidery, ribbons, and lace. Some huipiles are also made from commercial fabric. The garments are generally made from two or three woven panels joined with decorative stitching, then doubled over and a hole cut in the center panel for the neck (unless woven in during the weaving) and decorated with stitching or added trim. The sides are joined together with more decorative stitching, and allow openings for the arms. The length of the huipil can vary from a simple sleeveless top extending to the waist to a longer knee- or calf-length tunic.
References: lloom.blogspot.com/2011/07/huipil-tunic.html

Each in overall good condition with dust accumulation, light soiling, and wear to weave and stitching commensurate with age and use. A few with scattered small stains. Many with loose stitching to some seams, and a few scattered areas of loose or pulled embroidery threads. Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.